A program is near completion and the benefits will be delivered shortly. The program manager prepares to initiate program closeout activities to release the program resources. Before initiating…

Question

Options

• AReview the benefits management plan with the program sponsor
• BObtain approval from the sponsor to close the program
• CPrepare performance evaluations for all program personnel
• DPrepare performance evaluations for all project personnel

• A
  79% (27)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  6% (2)
• D
  12% (4)

Explanation

Reviewing the benefits management plan with the sponsor is the correct first step because the entire purpose of a program is to deliver benefits - and before releasing resources or initiating closeout, the program manager must confirm those benefits have been (or will be) realized as planned. The benefits management plan is the authoritative document that defines what "done" looks like, and the sponsor is the key stakeholder accountable for benefits realization.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B - Obtaining sponsor approval is a logical next step, but it comes after reviewing the benefits plan together, not before. You need a shared understanding of benefits status to have that conversation meaningfully.
• C & D - Performance evaluations are closeout activities that happen during closeout, not before initiating it. Additionally, the program manager is responsible for evaluating program-level staff (not all project personnel), making D doubly wrong.

Memory tip: Think of it as "earn the right to close." A program exists to deliver benefits - so before you shut it down, you must verify with the sponsor that those benefits are in hand or secured. Benefits check → approval → closeout activities → release resources. The benefits management plan is your checklist for "are we done?"

No community discussion yet for this question.